Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus comprises a main body with a handle, a wiping strip, mounted on a front side of the main body, and a cleaning head, mounted on a rear side of the main body, and is characterized by the main body having parallel front and rear mounting grooves for easy mounting and replacing the wiping strip and the cleaning head.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, to a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head and/or a wiping strip that is easily replaced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional cleaning apparatus comprises a holding plate with a handle and a cleaning head and a wiping strip. The cleaning head is a cleaning rag or a plastics sponge and is used to wipe objects to be cleaned and fastened to the holding plate. A gauze put over the cleaning head enhances a cleaning effect. The wiping strip is made of rubber and is used to remove water from surfaces of objects to be cleaned. The wiping strip has a thin edge, which is effectively used on curved glass surfaces, e.g., car windows, to remove traces of water. For cleaning an object, the cleaning head is soaked with water and a cleaning agent and applied to a surface of the object to dissolve and remove dirt. Then the wiping strip is passed over the surface of the object to remove water therefrom.

After prolonged use, however, the cleaning head and the wiping strip become worn, impaired and rotten by exposure to water or torn, or peel off from the holding plate. Yet a conventional cleaning apparatus does not allow for replacing a worn cleaning head or wiping strip and has to be thrown away, which is wasteful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus having a wiping strip that is easily replaced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head that is easily replaced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning apparatus which saves cost by having an easily replaceable wiping strip and cleaning head.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear mounting groove of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 a-5 c are schematic illustrations of mounting the cleaning head of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the extension plate of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention in the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention comprises: a main body 1, roughly shaped like a plate; a handle 15, fastened to a lower side of the main body 1 and oriented perpendicularly thereto; a wiping strip 4, fastened to a front side of the main body 1; and a cleaning head 5, fastened to a rear side of the main body 1 and oriented parallel to the wiping strip 4. Both the wiping strip 4 and the cleaning head 5 are removable from the main body 1, which substantially saves cost. In the following a detailed description is given.

The main body 1 comprises a connecting seat 11, a front mounting groove 2 and a rear mounting groove 3. The connecting seat 11 is mounted on the lower side of the main body 1 at a central position and has a threaded hole 13. The front mounting groove 2 has an L-shaped cross-section and is placed at the front side of the main body 1. The front mounting groove 2 has an accommodating part 21 of a relatively large cross-section and a longitudinal opening 23 of a relatively small cross-section with upper and lower walls 20, 22 and an insertion opening 25, through which the wiping strip 4 is inserted. The rear mounting groove 3 is placed at the rear side of the main body 1.

A chamber 14 lies between the front and rear mounting grooves 2, 3, strengthening the structure of the main body 1. A protrusion 12 is placed at the connecting seat 11 of the main body 1. The chamber 14 is provided with several ribs 16.

The handle 15 has a lower end to be gripped and an upper end with a thread 17 that is engaged with the threaded hole 13.

The wiping strip 4 comprises a held part 41 and a wiping part 42. The held part 41 fits into the accommodating part 21. Inserting of the held part 41 into the front mounting groove 2 is performed by inserting an end thereof through the insertion opening 25 and shifting thereof, until a desired position has been reached.

Due to the relatively large cross-section of the held part 41, as compared to the relatively small cross-section of the longitudinal opening 23, the wiping strip 4 is prevented from falling out of the front mounting groove 2 during use. Since the wiping strip 4 is made of rubber, transverse movement thereof, when water is wiped off, increases friction, so that the wiping strip 4 will not move out of the front mounting groove 2 through the insertion opening 25. The wiping part 42 is thinner than the held part 42 and passes through the longitudinal opening 23.

To prevent the wiping strip 4 from falling through the longitudinal opening 23, the upper wall 20 has a protrusion 24 with a trapezoidal cross-section that extends inward, and the held part 41 has a blocking shoulder 43 that engages therewith.

For protecting the wiping part 42, the lower wall 22 has a load distribution plate 26, which during wiping distributes load longitudinally, so that the wiping strip 4 has an increased lifetime.

To prevent the wiping strip 4 from slipping through the insertion opening 25, the lower wall 22 has an end part 27 at a right end thereof, with a gap 271 placed between the lower wall 22 and the end part 27. An extension piece 28 is placed on the end part 27, carrying a wedge-like blocker 29 with increasing thickness towards the right end, as shown in FIG. 6. The wiping strip 4 is by friction prevented from gliding past the blocker 29. To remove the wiping strip 4 manually, the extension piece 28 is pressed on, and the wiping strip 4 is pulled out.

The rear mounting groove 3 has a bottom 31 with at least one fastening hole 33. Close to each fastening hole 33, a projection 35 holds the cleaning head 5.

The cleaning head 5 comprises a holder 60, a cleaning element 50 and at least one hook 51. The holder 60 fits into the rear mounting groove 3, being able to move upward and downward. The cleaning element 50 is fixed to an outer side of the holder 60. The hooks 51 are each shaped like the letter L and fixed to a front side of the holder 60. Each hook 51 has an arm 53 which extends towards a free end with an inclined surface 55 and encloses an incision 57.

Referring to FIGS. 5 a-5 c, for mounting the cleaning head 5 in the rear mounting groove 3, each hook 51 is inserted into one of the fastening holes 33, reaching into the chamber 14, and is shifted in a transverse direction, so that each arm 53 is fixed in one of the fastening holes 33 and prevented from moving in a longitudinal direction. Each arm 53 has elasticity, and the inclined surface 55 thereof facilitates inserting of one of the projections 35 into the incision 57 thereof, so that moving thereof in the transverse direction is prevented, as well.

The cleaning element 50 comprises a fixed part 52 and a wiping part 54, which is fixed to an outer side of the fixed part 52 and used for cleaning objects like glass. The holder 60 comprises an upper assembly 61, shaped like a strip and having a lower side with teeth 63 and fixing holes 65, and a lower assembly 62, shaped like a strip and having teeth 64 and pegs 66. The pegs 66 respectively enter the fixing holes 65, and the teeth 63, 64 hold the fixed part 52.

Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention in a second embodiment has a front mounting groove 2 a with an upper wall 20 a into which several threaded holes 70 are bored. Bolts 71 fastening the wiping strip 4 are inserted into the threaded holes 70 and prevent the wiping strip 4 from moving in the transverse direction.

Referring to FIG. 8, the present invention in a third embodiment has a front mounting groove 2 b with a longitudinal opening 23 b and a wiping strip 4 b with a held part 41 b which fits into the front mounting groove 2 b, allowing a transverse movement without falling off through the longitudinal opening 23 b.

To save cost, the wiping strip 4 and the cleaning element 5 are fastened to the main body 1 in an alternative way.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a main body, to which a handle is fastened, having a front mounting groove enclosed by an upper wall and a lower wall, with a longitudinal opening on a front side thereof which is narrower than said front mounting groove and at least one insertion opening at least one end thereof; and a wiping strip, having a held part, which fits into said front mounting groove, and is inserted into said front mounting groove through said at least one insertion opening, and a wiping part which extends outward through said longitudinal opening and is narrower than said held part.
 2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front mounting groove has a cross-section that is shaped like the letter L.
 3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said front mounting groove has a circular cross-section.
 4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper wall has a protrusion that extends inward, and said held part has a blocking shoulder that engages therewith.
 5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4, wherein said protrusion of said upper wall has a trapezoidal cross-section.
 6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower wall carries a load distribution plate.
 7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lower wall has an end with an end part separated therefrom by a gap, with a blocker protruding from said end part on an inner side.
 8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said blocker has an increasing width towards said end of said lower wall.
 9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein said end part carries an extension piece.
 10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper wall has a plurality of threaded holes, with a plurality of bolts that respectively enter said plurality of threaded holes fastening said wiping strip.
 11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning head, wherein said main body has a rear mounting groove, which is oriented parallel to said front mounting groove and which has a bottom and at least one fastening hole in which said cleaning head is mounted, and a chamber between said front and rear mounting grooves, and wherein said cleaning head further comprises a holder, which fits into said rear mounting groove, a cleaning element, attached to an outer side of said holder, and at least one hook, shaped like the letter L with an arm and mounted in said fastening hole; wherein said cleaning head is mounted by putting said arm of said at least one hook put through said at least one fastening hole, until said at least one hook extends into said chamber, and moving at least one hook transversely, until being fixed in said at least one fastening hole.
 12. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a main body, to which a handle is fastened, having a rear mounting groove which has a bottom and at least one fastening hole; and a cleaning head, fastened to said main body on a rear side thereof and further comprising a holder, which fits into said rear mounting groove, a cleaning element, attached to an outer side of said holder, and at least one hook, shaped like the letter L with an arm and mounted in said at least one fastening hole.
 13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein, for each of said at least one fastening holes, close thereto a projection is placed on said bottom on an outer side thereof, and wherein, for each of said at least one said hooks, said arm thereof has a free end with an inclined surface and an incision engaging with said projection of one of said at least one fastening holes.
 14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein said cleaning element comprises a fixed part and a wiping part, attached to an outer side of said fixed part, and wherein said holder further comprises an upper assembly, which is shaped like a strip and on a lower side has teeth and fixing holes, and a lower assembly, which is shaped like a strip and on an upper side has teeth and pegs, which pass through said fixing holes of said upper assembly, wherein said teeth of said upper and lower assemblies hold said fixed part of said cleaning element to said holder. 